Community Initiative Award 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991

Civic Trust Commendation 2004

CABE Gold Standard Sustainability Award 2007

The Angell Town project is a pilot scheme in Brixton, South London, which addresses the design and management problems typical of a 1970s deck-access estate. The initiative to improve the environment of what had become a ‘sink estate’ came initially from the tenants, who were very keen to make sure that the proposals by the London Borough of Lambeth were tailored to the needs and desires of people of the estate. The Pilot Project comprised a radical remodelling on three floors of the flats above the garages and associated external areas. It included 15 new flats with individual stair access and improved interiors, new rooms built by converting the redundant access walkway, 15 new flats converted from disused car parks and a new square with a safe railed-off play area to replace a previously unused and unattractive patch of grass.

angell town people used to settle for anything, because anything was better than nothing. Now we insist on getting the very best possible

— Dora Boatemah, Resident Director of ATCP

Apart from improving the housing and urban environment, an essential component of the regeneration of Angell Town was the introduction of a range of facilities to encourage street level activity. The disused car park at ground level was converted into 20 studio/workshops, a hairdresser's, laundrette and corner shop, while community facilities include a café, clubroom, recording studio and an enterprise centre for start-up businesses. Income from rent of the studio offices helps fund the communal and training facilities organised by the Angell Town Community Project.

a 21st century version of the terraced housing that does not look like traditional social housing.

— Housing Design Awards 2000

Likely to look as fresh and undated in 20 years’ time as it does now.

The quality of the external detailing... speaks volumes... This is all the more remarkable within the context of a ‘design and build’ contract.

— Housing Design Awards 2002

the architecture of this community housing for the London Borough of Lambeth is exemplary in many ways, but especially in the delightful quality of environment that is created for the users.

this is a triumph for stakeholder power and the development programmes that are designed to support them.